Brighton: Teenagers climb Palace Pier and leap off into sea

Richard Murrell was fishing with his friend Luke Jackson on the Albion Groyne on Brighton seafront, just west of the pier, when they spotted the young boys climbing the structure.

They dangled from the support structure (Image: Luke Jackson)

He said: "They were climbing under the pier and hanging around like monkeys.

"The lifeguards were going over to them in their boat and trying to get them down but they still jumped off."

The 52-year-old bricklayer said he shouted across to tell them how dangerous jumping from the pier can be.

"It was really shallow at the time and I said they were going to seriously hurt themselves. It was frightening to watch.

"Just swimming underneath the pier can be dangerous enough, but jumping could break their neck and back or worse.

"They might think it is funny but it won't be when one of them seriously gets hurt. It only takes one freak accident to paralyse them or even kill them."

The youngsters were clinging on to the metalwork (Image: Luke Jackson)

Palace Pier boss Anne Ackord said the practice has been happening ever since the pier was opened in 1899.

She said: "Generations of youngsters fail to appreciate the considerable danger of doing this."

Luke said that if it was his children jumping from the pier he would be "horrified".

The 26-year-old from Bevendean said he had been fishing in Brighton for nearly five years and had never seen anything like this before.

The boys, barefoot and wearing swimming trunks, were diving from just underneath the decking on the pier into the sea at around 8pm on Saturday evening.

They were underneath the decking (Image: Luke Jackson)

There are signs along the length of the pier saying: "It is forbidden and dangerous to jump, dive, or swim from the pier."

Anne said: "Unless some formal action can be taken against them, all we can do is try to prevent and advise.

"Our security team spend huge amounts of time trying to prevent these actions each year.

"The danger is greatest at low tide as the jumpers fail to realise how shallow the water actually is."

Last year 47-year-old father John Horseman died after jumping from the pier and suffering a severe brain injury.

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Brighton and Hove City Council's chairman of community safety Councillor Leslie Pumm joined Anne in calls for youngsters to think twice before risking their lives.

He said: "It might seem like fun jumping from the beach groynes or from the pier but it is actually really dangerous.

"We want children and teenagers to know that in the past, people have been very seriously injured doing this - some permanently.

"You can never be sure how deep the water is or if there are objects in the sea below. And there are currents in the sea around the groynes and the pier that can be very dangerous.

"Don’t jump – you could be putting your life in danger or encouraging others who may not be good swimmers and don’t understand the risks involved.

"We hope parents will discourage their children from doing this. There are lots of places where it is safe to swim and play."